Adjustable support device with multiple rolling elements

ABSTRACT

An adjustable support device includes a base that includes a plurality of rolling element receiving cavities, a plurality of rolling elements that interface with the rolling element receiving cavities, and an external sleeve coupled to the base for adjustable vertical positioning of the external sleeve relative to the base. Each of the rolling element receiving cavities is positioned and oriented to interface with a rolling element disposed between the base and the support surface. The external sleeve can be placed in a first vertical position relative to the base where the rolling elements do not contact the support surface, and in a second vertical position relative to the base where the rolling elements do contact the support surface. A rimguard may be rotatively coupled with the external sleeve so that as the external sleeve is rotated to the first vertical position.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/092,064, entitled “ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT DEVICE WITH MULTIPLEROLLING ELEMENTS,” filed Apr. 21, 2011, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to devices used to support anitem relative to a support surface, and more particularly to a heightadjustable support device with multiple rolling elements, and relatedsystem and methods.

Various devices have used to reduce the effort required to move anobject along a support surface. For example, casters are non-actuatedwheels that are mounted to the bottom of a larger object to reduce theeffort necessary to move the object. Casters are found in numerousapplications, including shopping carts, office chairs, and materialhandling equipment. High capacity, heavy duty casters are used in manyindustrial applications, such as platform trucks and carts. Generally,casters operate on smooth and flat surfaces.

Casters do, however, suffer from a number of problems. One disadvantageof casters is shimmy or caster flutter, where a caster rapidly swingsside-to-side. Caster flutter may cause the supported object to move inan unwanted direction. Casters may also be easily obstructed by an itemsuch as a power chord or an irregularity of the support surface. Andmany casters lack provisions for leveling of the supported object andpreventing unwanted movement of the supported object along the supportsurface. Accordingly, improved devices for supporting an object relativeto a support surface would be beneficial, particularly devices that donot suffer from the above-identified issues with casters.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

Height adjustable support devices for supporting an object relative to asupport surface are disclosed, as well as related systems and methods.The disclosed support devices can include multiple rolling elements andcan include a height adjustable outer sleeve. The multiple rollingelements increase the load capacity of the support device and increasethe tolerance of the support device to irregularities of the supportsurface. The height adjustable outer sleeve provides for leveling of thesupported object and can be positioned to keep obstructions such aspower cords from coming into contact with the rolling elements. Theheight adjustable outer sleeve can also serve to prevent unwantedmovement of the supported object along the support surface by liftingthe rolling elements out of contact with the support surface and therebyincreasing the frictional restraint between the support device and thesupport surface.

Thus, in one aspect, an adjustable support device is provided. Thedevice includes a base that includes a plurality of rolling elementreceiving cavities, a plurality of rolling elements that interface withthe rolling element receiving cavities, and an external sleeve coupledto the base for adjustable vertical positioning of the external sleeverelative to the base. Each of the rolling element receiving cavities ispositioned and oriented to interface with a rolling element disposedbetween the base and the support surface. The external sleeve can beplaced in a first vertical position relative to the base where theexternal sleeve contacts the support surface. And the external sleevecan be placed in a second vertical position relative to the base wherethe external sleeve does not contact the support surface.

Suitably shaped rolling elements can be used. For example, the rollingelements can include one or more rolling elements having a sphericalshape. And the rolling elements can include one or more rolling elementshaving a cylindrical shape.

The base can be configured to be rotatable relative to the supporteditem. For example, the base can include a top portion that remains fixedrelative to the supported item when the adjustable support device isattached to a supported item, and a bottom portion that is rotatablerelative to the top portion. In many embodiments, the base includes athrust-bearing coupled between the top portion and the bottom portion.Such an articulated base can be used to orient rolling elements having acylindrical shape to move along a desired direction of travel.

The base can include a feature for attaching the base to the supporteditem. For example, the base can include a threaded stud for attachingthe base to the supported item. In many embodiments, the threaded studhas a left-handed thread. By using a left-handed thread on the threadedstud, loosening of the attachment between the base and the supporteditem may be prevented during adjustment of the position of the externalsleeve.

The external sleeve can be coupled to the base via a threaded interface.For example, the base can include an externally-threaded portion and theexternal sleeve can include an internally-threaded portion to interfacewith the externally-threaded portion of the base so that rotation of theexternal sleeve relative to the base adjusts the vertical position ofthe external sleeve relative to the base. The external sleeve caninclude one or more external wrenching features shaped to interface witha tool used to rotate the external sleeve relative to the base. Forexample, the one or more external wrenching features can include anopposing pair of parallel flat surfaces. And the one or more externalwrenching features can include a plurality of opposing pairs of parallelflat surfaces. Any suitable external wrenching features can be employed.

The base can include two or more of the rolling element receivingreceptacles. For example, the base can include three or more, four ormore, six or more, or nine or more, rolling element receivingreceptacles.

The adjustable support device can include a feature to retain therolling elements in the rolling element receiving receptacles. Forexample, the device can include a retention plate attachable to the baseand configured to retain the rolling elements in the rolling elementreceiving receptacles. The retention plate can have a plurality ofopenings with each of the openings configured to accommodate a portionof one of the rolling elements such that the rolling element partiallyprotrudes below the retention plate. And the device can include one ormore removable fasteners to attach the retention plate to the base. Theretention plate can include one or more internally-threaded protrudingportions that are received within corresponding cavities in the base.Each of the internally-threaded protruding portions can receive one ofthe removable fasteners.

In many embodiments, the external sleeve can be positioned such that asubstantially uniform gap between the external sleeve and the supportsurface exists and is sufficiently small enough to block objects such ascords from obstructing the rolling elements. For example, in manyembodiments, the external sleeve can be positioned to result in asubstantially uniform gap of less than 10 mm between the externalsurface and the support surface. And in many embodiments, the externalsleeve can be positioned to result in a substantially uniform gap ofless than 5 mm between the external surface and the support surface. Andin many embodiments, the external sleeve can be positioned to result ina substantially uniform gap of less than 3 mm between the externalsurface and the support surface.

In another aspect, a system is provided for supporting an item relativeto a support surface. The system includes three or more adjustablesupport devices. Each of the support devices includes a base thatincludes a plurality of rolling element receiving cavities, a pluralityof rolling elements that interface with the rolling element receivingcavities, and an external sleeve coupled to the base for adjustablevertical positioning of the external sleeve relative to the base. Eachof the rolling element receiving cavities is positioned and oriented tointerface with a rolling element disposed between the base and thesupport surface. The external sleeve can be placed in a first verticalposition relative to the base where the external sleeve contacts thesupport surface. And the external sleeve can be placed in a secondvertical position relative to the base where the external sleeve doesnot contact the support surface.

In another aspect, a method is provided for supporting an item relativeto a support surface. The method includes receiving a base attached tothe supported item so as to be disposed between the supported item andthe support surface, the base including a plurality of rolling elementreceiving receptacles. The method further includes receiving each of aplurality of rolling elements interfaced with one of the rolling elementreceiving receptacles. The rolling elements are retained relative to thebase. The method further includes receiving an external sleeve that iscoupled to the base for adjustable vertical positioning of the externalsleeve relative to the base. The external sleeve is adjusted relative tothe base so that the external sleeve does not contact the supportsurface and the supported item is supported relative to the supportsurface via the rolling elements. And the external sleeve is adjustedrelative to the base so that the external sleeve contacts the supportsurface and the supported item is supported relative to the supportsurface via the contact between the external sleeve and the supportsurface. The method can further include adjusting the external sleeverelative to the base so that a substantially uniform gap of less than 5mm is formed between the external sleeve and the support surface.

In various embodiments, an adjustable support device is providedcomprising a base, at least one rolling element, an external sleeve, anda rimguard. The base can be attachable to a supported item so as to bedisposed between the supported item and a support surface, and the basecan include at least one rolling element receiving receptacle, eachrolling element receiving receptacle positioned and oriented tointerface with a rolling element disposed between the base and thesupport surface. Each rolling element in the adjustable support deviceinterfaces with one of the rolling element receiving receptacles. Theexternal sleeve can be coupled with the base and rotatable to adjust avertical positioning of one of the base and the external sleeve relativeto the other of the sleeve and the base. The external sleeve can berotated to a first vertical position where no rolling element contactsthe support surface, and the external sleeve can be rotated to a secondvertical position where at least one rolling element contacts thesupport surface. The rimguard can be coupled to the external sleeve. Therimguard can comprise a rimguard inner surface disposed adjacent abottom rim of the external sleeve, and the rimguard can comprise arimguard outer surface facing the support surface. As the externalsleeve is rotated to the first vertical position, the rimguard outersurface can interact with the support surface such that the rimguardouter surface remains in place relative to the support surface while thebottom rim of the external sleeve rotates relative to the rimguard innersurface.

In some embodiments, the rimguard comprises sidewalls defining a hollowbody. The rimguard can comprise a shelf extending into the hollow bodyfrom a lower portion of the sidewalls and providing the inner surfaceadjacent the bottom rim of the external sleeve upon which the externalsleeve can rotate. The external sleeve can comprises a groove, and therimguard can comprise an edge extending into the hollow body from anupper portion of the sidewalls. The edge can be received in the groovefor coupling the rimguard to the external sleeve and supporting therimguard relative to the external sleeve when the external sleeve is inthe second vertical position. The edge can be jagged and comprise aplurality of tips, wherein only the tips are received in the groove. Theedge can comprise an inner perimeter characterized by semicircularnotches which define tips between adjacent notches, wherein only thetips are received in the groove. The rimguard can comprises ultra highmolecular weight plastic. The rimguard can be removable from theexternal sleeve.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an adjustable support device,in accordance with many embodiments, attached to the leg of a supporteditem.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the adjustablesupport device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable support device ofFIG. 1 with an external sleeve positioned so that the supported item issupported via rolling elements of the support device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable support device ofFIG. 1 with the external sleeve positioned to contact a support surfaceso as to support the supported item.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the adjustable support device of FIG. 1 withthe external sleeve positioned so that a small gap exists between theexternal sleeve and the support surface so that the external sleevefunctions as a guard to prevent items such as cords from obstructing therolling elements, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an adjustable external sleeveof an adjustable support device, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of a retentionplate to a base of an adjustable support device, in accordance with manyembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the adjustable supportdevice of FIG. 7 and further illustrating a set screw used to secure theposition of an adjustable external sleeve relative to a base, inaccordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a retention plate havingintegral protruding internally-threaded portions used to secure theretention plate to a base, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 10 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating an adjustablesupport device, in accordance with many embodiments, having cylindricalrolling elements, the adjustable support device being rotatable relativeto a supported item to orient the cylindrical rolling elements formovement along a desired direction of travel.

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the adjustable support device ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view illustrating the adjustable support device ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of an adjustable support devicehaving a rimguard, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of an external sleeve andrimguard assembly, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a side cut-away view of the adjustable support device of FIG.13 with an external sleeve positioned so that the supported item issupported via rolling elements of the support device.

FIG. 16 is a side cut-away view of the adjustable support device of FIG.13 with an external sleeve positioned so that the supported item issupported via rolling elements of the support device and so that therimguard contacts the support surface.

FIG. 17 is a side cut-away view of the adjustable support device of FIG.13 with an external sleeve positioned so that the rimguard contacts thesupport surface and the supported item is not supported via rollingelements of the support device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specificconfigurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent toone skilled in the art that the present invention can be practicedwithout the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may beomitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment beingdescribed.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsrepresent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows anadjustable support device 10 attached to supported item 12. The supportdevice 10 includes a base 14, a plurality of rolling elements 16 thatare retained within rolling element receiving cavities of the base by aretention plate 18. The base 14 has a generally cylindrical shape. Eachof the rolling element receiving cavities is shaped and sized to permitthe rolling element to rotate in the rolling element receiving cavity.The retention plate 18 is secured to the base 14 by removable fasteners20. The retention plate includes apertures that are shaped, sized, andpositioned to retain each of the rolling elements 16 while allowing aportion (e.g., a ⅓ diametrical portion) of each of the rolling elementsto protrude below the bottom surface of the retention plate 18. Anadjustable external sleeve 22 has a generally cylindrical body and iscoupled with the base 14 so that the vertical position of the externalsleeve 22 relative to the base 14 can be adjusted. While the externalsleeve 22 of the present embodiment has a cylindrical external shape,other suitable configurations can be used, for example, polygonalexternal shapes can be used. In many embodiments, the base 14 includesan externally-threaded portion that interfaces with aninternally-threaded portion of the external sleeve 22 so that rotationof the external sleeve relative to the base results in vertical movementof the external sleeve relative to the base. In many embodiments, theexternal sleeve can be positioned out of contact with a support surfaceso that the rolling elements contact the support surface and can bepositioned to contact the support surface and adjusted to aid inleveling the supported item. When the external sleeve is adjusted tocontact the support surface it may also help prevent inadvertentmovement of the supported item along the support surface by increasingthe amount of sliding friction present.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable support device10. The base includes a threaded stud 24 for attaching the base 14 to asupported item (e.g., to a leg of a supported item). In manyembodiments, the threaded stud 24 has a left-handed thread so that whenthe external sleeve 22 is adjusted downward relative to the base thethreaded stud does not unscrew from the supported item. The threadedstud 24 can have any suitable configuration to interface with thesupported item. For example, when the base is attached to a wooden legof the supported item, the threaded stud can include a self tappingthread (e.g., wood screw thread, lag bolt thread). And the supporteditem can include an internally-threaded receptacle or nut that receivesthe threaded stud.

The base 14 includes an externally-threaded portion 26 that interfaceswith an internally-threaded portion 28 of the external sleeve 22. Anysuitable configuration of thread can be used. For example, a fine threadwith a pitch of 1.25 mm can be used.

The base 14 has nine rolling element receiving receptacles 30 that areshaped and sized to accommodate a corresponding nine rolling elements16. For example, each of the rolling element receiving cavities 30 canbe spherically shaped (e.g., a half sphere) and sized to accommodate aspherically-shaped rolling element 16 so as to permit the rollingelement to rotate relative to the rolling element receiving cavity. Anysuitable diameter of spherically-shaped rolling element can be used(e.g., 3/16 inch). While the adjustable support device 10 is shown withnine rolling element receiving receptacles, any suitable number ofrolling element receiving receptacles and associated rolling elementscan be used. For example, two, three, four or more, six or more, andmore than nine rolling element receiving receptacles and associatedrolling elements can also be used. Additionally, a suitable number ofsmaller rolling elements, such as BBs, can also be disposed withinrolling element receiving receptacles 30 to provide an improved rollingsurface for rolling elements 16.

The retention plate 18 is attached to the base 14 by the two removablefasteners 20 that engage internally-threaded holes in the base, therebyretaining the rolling elements in the rolling element receivingreceptacles. Other suitable ways of attaching the retention plate to thebase case can also be used. And other suitable ways of retaining therolling elements can also be used.

The rolling element receiving cavities and the retention plate areshaped and sized to accommodate and retain the rolling elements. Withthe retention plate removed, the rolling element receiving cavities areshaped and sized to receive the rolling elements. The retention platehas a circular flat body with apertures 32 having side walls shaped toaccommodate and retain the rolling elements. As shown in both FIG. 3 andFIG. 4, the side walls of the apertures 32 are tapered or contoured toretain the rolling elements within the rolling element receivingcavities.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 also illustrate possible positions of the adjustablesleeve 22 relative to the base 14. FIG. 3 shows the adjustable sleeve 22positioned above a support surface 34 so that the rolling elementscontact the support surface, and thereby provides rolling elementsbetween the support surface and the supported item 12 to reduce theeffort necessary to move the supported item along the support surface.And FIG. 4 shows the adjustable sleeve 22 positioned to contact thesupport surface 34 so that the rolling elements are elevated above thesupport surface, thereby providing a way to level the supported item 12and to restrict movement of the supported item along the supportedsurface by providing a non-rolling contact between the support device 10and the support surface 34.

FIG. 5 shows the adjustable sleeve 22 positioned so that a relativelysmall gap exists between the adjustable sleeve and the support surface34. As illustrated, this configuration may be useful in preventingpossible obstructions such as electrical cords 36 from contacting therolling elements and thereby helping to prevent obstruction of therolling elements.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an adjustable external sleeve 22 thatincludes external wrenching features shaped to interface with a toolused to rotate the external sleeve 22 relative to the base. The externalwrenching features are a pair of opposed parallel surfaces 38 that canbe engaged by a tools such an open-ended wrench to rotate the externalsleeve relative to the base, thereby adjusting the vertical position ofthe external sleeve relative to the base. While a single pair of opposedparallel surfaces are shown, any other suitable wrenching features canbe used. For example, any suitable number of opposing pairs of parallelflat surfaces can be used.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show another way of attaching the retention plate 18to the base 14. Two externally-threaded recessed head bolts 40 engagemating recessed head internally-threaded mating elements 42, therebyproviding a flush installation where the attachment fasteners do notprotrude below the retention plate 18. The base 14 includes recesses 44sized and shaped to accommodate the bolts 40 and the mating elements 42.

FIG. 8 further illustrates a retention screw 46 operable to preventinadvertent rotation of the adjustable sleeve 22 relative to the base14, thereby preventing inadvertent vertical movement of the adjustablesleeve relative to the base. FIG. 9 shows a retention plate 18 withintegral protruding portions 48 that are internally-threaded to receiveand couple with the bolts 40.

The various components of the adjustable support device 10 can befabricated from suitable materials. For example, the base 14 and theadjustable sleeve 22 can be made from a suitable material, such anysuitable alloy of aluminum or stainless steel with any suitable heattreatment. Alternatively, the base and the adjustable sleeve can be madefrom any suitable titanium, copper, galvanized metal, plastic, andnylon. The support balls 16 can be made from, for example, nylon,stainless steel, steel, polyurethane, plastic, carbon fiber, ceramic,Teflon, and copper.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an adjustable support device100 that has cylindrically-shaped rolling elements and that is rotatablerelative to the supported item so that the cylindrically-shaped rollingelements can be oriented to move along a desire direction. Theadjustable support device 100 includes a mounting pin 102, a base topportion 104, a thrust bearing 106, a base bottom portion 108,cylindrically-shaped rolling elements 110, a retention plate 112, and aretention plate fastener 114.

The mounting pin 102 has a cylindrical outer surface that interfaceswith the inside diameter of the thrust bearing 106. The mounting pin 102can be appropriately coupled with the supported item and/or the basebottom portion 108. For example, the mounting pin 102 can include anupper threaded portion for attaching the mounting pin 102 with thesupported item such that the mounting pin 102 extends verticallydownward from the supported item. As another example, the mounting pincan include a lower threaded portion for attaching the mounting pin 102with the base bottom portion 108 such that the mounting pin 102 extendsvertically upward from the base bottom portion 108.

The base top portion 104 interfaces with the supported item. The basetop portion 104 includes an aperture through which the mounting pin 102extends and a receptacle 116 shaped to receive and support the topportion of the thrust bearing 106. The base top portion 104 can serve asa non-rotating part of the adjustable support device 100 relative to thesupported item.

The thrust bearing 106 interfaces with the receptacle 116 in the basetop portion and a similar receptacle 118 in the base bottom portion 108.The portion of the weight of the supported item that is supported by theadjustable support device 100 is transferred from the base top portion104 to the base bottom portion 108 through the thrust bearing 106. Thethrust bearing 106 also provides for relative rotation between the basetop portion 104 and the base bottom portion 108.

The base bottom portion 108 can include features similar to features ofthe base portion 14 of the adjustable support device 10. The base bottomportion 108 includes an externally-threaded portion 26, rolling elementreceiving cavities 120, and the receptacle 118 shaped to receive andsupport the bottom portion of the thrust bearing 106. The base bottomportion 108 includes a threaded hole 122 used to secure the retentionplate 112 to the base bottom portion 108 via the retention platefastener 114. While only one threaded hole 122 and a corresponding oneretention plate fastener 114 is shown, any suitable approach forattaching the retention plate 112 to the base bottom portion 108 can beused. For example, the attachment approaches used to attach theretention plate 18 to the base 14 in the adjustable support device 10can also be used in the adjustable support device 100. Each of therolling element receiving cavities 120 is shaped to accommodate one ofthe cylindrically-shaped rolling elements 110 and to allow thecylindrically-shaped rolling elements 110 to rotate within the rollingelement receiving cavities 120 during movement of the supported itemalong the support surface. While the adjustable support device 100 isshown with two cylindrically-shaped rolling elements 110, any suitablenumber and combination of rolling element types can be used. Forexample, one or more rolling elements having a spherical shape can beused in conjunction with one or more cylindrically-shaped rollingelements 110. Each of the rolling element receiving cavities 120 canhave a half-cylindrical configuration. The base bottom portion 108includes opposing parallel surfaces 124, which can be used as externalwrenching features that can interface with a tool used to rotate thebase bottom portion 108 relative to the supported item to orient thecylindrically-shaped rolling elements 110 for movement of the supporteditem in a desired direction along the support surface. In general, anyother suitable external wrenching feature(s) can be used.

The retention plate 112 includes apertures 126 that are shaped, sized,and positioned to retain each of the cylindrically-shaped rollingelements 110 within the rolling element receiving cavities 120 whileallowing a portion (e.g., ⅓ diametrical portion) of each of thecylindrically-shaped rolling elements 110 to protrude below the bottomsurface of the retention plate 112. Each of the apertures 126 can havesloped side walls shaped to accommodate the cylindrical outer surface ofthe cylindrically-shaped rolling element 110.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 further illustrate the adjustable support device100. FIG. 11 is a side view of the adjustable support device 100. AndFIG. 12 is a bottom view of the adjustable support device 100 and showsin phantom an alternate orientation of the cylindrically-shaped rollingelements 110 that can be obtained by rotating the base bottom portion108 relative to the supported item.

The various components of the adjustable support device 100 can befabricated from any suitable material, for example, from the materialsdiscussed above with respect to corresponding components of theadjustable support device 10. Similarly, the various components of theadjustable support device 100 can be suitably sized and configured, forexample, sized and configured similar to the adjustable support device10.

FIG. 13 shows an exploded perspective view of an adjustable supportdevice having a rimguard 23. In many embodiments, the external sleeve 22includes a rimguard 23 coupled to the sleeve 22 and disposed between itsbottom rim 35 and the support surface 34. The rimguard 23 can provide alow friction surface in lieu of the support surface 34 for the sleeve 22to move against when it is rotated to adjust vertical positioning ofeither the base 14 or the sleeve 22. As best shown in FIGS. 15-17, invarious embodiments, as the external sleeve 22 is rotated from aposition where the rolling elements 16 in the base 14 contact thesupport surface 34 to a position where the rolling elements 16 in thebase 14 are raised out of contact with the support surface 34, thebottom or outer surface 37 of the rimguard engages the support surface34 so that the rimguard 23 stays in place relative to the supportsurface 34. With the rimguard 23 so secured, the external sleeve 22 mayturn against an inner surface 33 of the rimguard 23, which may provide alower friction surface than the support surface 34 and may preventdamage to the support surface 34.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing an external sleeve 22and rimguard 23 assembly, in accordance with many embodiments. In manyembodiments, the rimguard 23 is shaped like a hollow cylinder with holesin each end and sidewalls connecting the two ends. The lower end of therimguard can have a central opening and a shelf 31 extending inward fromthe sidewalls to the perimeter of the opening. The rimguard upper endcan have an edge 25 extending into the hollow body from an upper portionof the sidewalls, and the edge 25 can be received into a groove 21 inthe external sleeve 22 in order to couple the pieces together. Thus, inmany embodiments, when the external sleeve 22 is positioned such thatthe rolling elements 16 contact the support surface 34, the rimguard 23is supported by the external sleeve 22 above the support surface 34,specifically by the interaction of the edge 25 sitting in the groove 21.In many embodiments, when the external sleeve 22 is positioned such thatthe rolling elements 16 are out of contact with the support surface 34,the bottom surface 37 of the rimguard 23 contacts the support surface34, and the inner top surface 33 of the shelf 31 provides a surface onwhich the bottom rim 35 of the external sleeve 22 may rotate for furthervertical positioning adjustment of the sleeve 22 or base 14 relative tothe support surface 34.

FIG. 15, FIG. 16, and FIG. 17 also illustrate some possible positions ofthe adjustable sleeve 22 and the base 14 relative to the support surface34. FIG. 15 shows the rimguard 23 positioned above a support surface 34so that rolling elements 16 contact the support surface 34, therebyproviding rolling elements 16 between the support surface 34 and thesupported item 12 to reduce the effort necessary to move the supporteditem 12 along the support surface 34. FIG. 17 shows the adjustablesleeve 22 positioned so that the rolling elements 16 are elevated abovethe support surface 34, thereby providing a way to level the supporteditem 12 and to restrict movement of the supported item 12 along thesupported surface 34 by providing a non-rolling contact between thesupport device 10 and the support surface 34. FIG. 16 shows anintermediate position of the adjustable sleeve 22, wherein the sleeve 22is in communication with the support surface 34 via the rimguard 23 andthe rolling elements 16 are still contacting the support surface 34. Atthis point, the result of continued rotation of the external sleeve 22will switch between adjusting the vertical positioning of the sleeve 22and adjusting the vertical positioning of the base 14. In other words,if rotation of the sleeve 22 has been lowering the vertical positioningof the sleeve 22 (for example moving the sleeve 22 from the positionshown in FIG. 15 to the position shown in FIG. 16), then once the sleeve22 reaches the position shown in FIG. 16, the continued rotation of thesleeve 22 in the same direction will cause the sleeve 22 to turn inplace without changing its vertical position relative the supportsurface 34, and the continued rotation in the same direction willinstead raise the vertical positioning of the base 14 and rollingelements 16 relative to the support surface 34 (for example moving thebase 14 from the position shown in FIG. 16 toward the position shown inFIG. 17). If rotation of the sleeve 22 has been lowering the verticalpositioning of the base 14 relative the support surface (for examplemoving the base 14 from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the positionshown in FIG. 16), then once the base 14 reaches the position shown inFIG. 16, the continued rotation of the sleeve 22 in the same directionwill no longer adjust the vertical positioning of the base 14 relativethe support surface 34, but will instead raise the vertical positioningof the sleeve 22 relative the support surface 34 (for example moving thesleeve from the position shown in FIG. 16 toward the position shown inFIG. 15).

Embodiments include other variations of the rimguard 23 as well. Forexample, the edge 25 can be contoured in a variety of ways, includingshaped, smooth, or jagged. In various embodiments, edge 25 comprises aninner perimeter characterized by notches 27. Notches 27 can have avariety of shapes, such as arced or semicircular, and can be uniform ornon-uniform with other notches 27 in edge 25. As shown in FIG. 14,notches 27 may also define tips 29 between adjacent notches. In variousembodiments, only the tips 29 are received in the groove 21. Notches 27can provide several advantages, including decreasing the amount ofmaterial necessary to fabricate rimguard 23 and facilitatinginstallation of rimguard 23 onto sleeve 22. For example, in variousembodiments, the rimguard 23 and external sleeve 22 are fabricated asseparate pieces, and the rimguard 23 must be installed on the externalsleeve 22. In embodiments, the rimguard 23 can be first positioned in atilted orientation so that a part of the edge 25 engages a part of thegroove 21, while an opposite side of the edge 25 interferes with thebottom rim 35. A sufficient force can then be applied on the interferingside of the edge 25 to cause it to flex outwardly to fit around thebottom rim 35, and the position of the rimguard can then be adjusteduntil the flexed side of the edge 25 is aligned with the groove 21,allowing the flexed side of the edge 25 to unflex and snap intoengagement with the groove 21 to complete installation. In thisarrangement, the notches 27 reduce the amount of material available toprovide resistance to flexing during installation, making the edge 25more flexible and the rimguard 23 accordingly easier to install onto thesleeve 22. In some embodiments, the rimguard 23 comprises materialselected having sufficient flexibility to facilitate installation of therimguard 23 on the sleeve 22. In various embodiments, the rimguard 23comprises ultra high molecular weight plastic. In embodiments, to makethe rimguard 23 more flexible for installation onto the sleeve 22, therimguard 23 is heated, for example, with a blow torch.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus,while the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof areshown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of rangesof values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method ofreferring individually to each separate value falling within the range,unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitationon the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable caster device comprising: a baseattachable to a supported item so as to be disposed between thesupported item and a support surface, the base including at least onerolling element receiving receptacle; at least one rolling element, eachrolling element interfacing with one rolling element receivingreceptacle; an external sleeve coupled with the base and rotatable toadjust a vertical positioning of one of the base and the external sleeverelative to the other of the external sleeve and the base, wherein theexternal sleeve can be rotated to a first vertical position where saidat least one rolling element does not contact the support surface, andwherein the external sleeve can be rotated to a second vertical positionwhere said at least one rolling element contacts the support surface;and a rimguard rotatively coupled with the external sleeve andcomprising a rimguard inner surface disposed facing a bottom rim of theexternal sleeve and a rimguard outer surface facing the support surface,wherein as the external sleeve is rotated to the first verticalposition, the rimguard outer surface interacts with the support surfacesuch that the rimguard outer surface does not rotate relative to thesupport surface while the bottom rim of the external sleeve rotatesrelative to the rimguard inner surface.
 2. The adjustable caster deviceof claim 1, wherein the rimguard outer surface and the rimguard innersurface are configured so that the rimguard outer surface provideshigher friction between the rimguard outer surface and the supportsurface than the friction between the rimguard inner surface and thebottom rim of the external sleeve, such that the rimguard outer surfacedoes not rotate relative to the support surface while the bottom rim ofthe external sleeve rotates relative to the rimguard inner surface. 3.The adjustable caster device of claim 1, wherein the rimguard comprises:sidewalls defining a hollow body; a shelf extending into the hollow bodyfrom a lower portion of the sidewalls and providing the inner surfaceadjacent the bottom rim of the external sleeve.
 4. The adjustable casterdevice of claim 3, wherein the external sleeve further comprises agroove and the rimguard further comprises an edge extending into thehollow body from an upper portion of the sidewalls, wherein the edge isreceived in the groove for coupling the rimguard with the externalsleeve and, when the external sleeve is in the second vertical position,supporting the rimguard relative to the external sleeve.
 5. Theadjustable caster device of claim 4, wherein the edge is jagged andcomprises a plurality of tips, wherein only the tips are received in thegroove.
 6. The adjustable caster device of claim 1, wherein the rimguardcomprises ultra high molecular weight plastic.
 7. The adjustable casterdevice of claim 1, wherein the rimguard is removable.
 8. The adjustablecaster device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rolling elementcomprises a rolling element having a spherical shape.
 9. The adjustablecaster device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rolling elementcomprises a rolling element having a cylindrical shape.
 10. Theadjustable caster device of claim 9, wherein the base comprises a topportion and a bottom portion that is rotatable relative to the topportion.
 11. The adjustable caster device of claim 10, wherein the basecomprises a thrust bearing coupled between the top and bottom portions.12. The adjustable caster device of claim 1, wherein the base includesthree or more of the rolling element receiving receptacles.
 13. Theadjustable caster device of claim 12, wherein the base includes six ormore of the rolling element receiving receptacles.
 14. The adjustablecaster device of claim 1, further comprising a retention plateattachable to the base and configured to retain said at least onerolling element in said at least one rolling element receivingreceptacle, the retention plate having one or more openings, eachopening configured to accommodate a portion of one of said at least onerolling element such that said one rolling element partially protrudesbelow the retention plate.
 15. The adjustable caster device of claim 14,further comprising one or more removable fasteners to attach theretention plate to the base.
 16. The adjustable caster device of claim15, wherein the retention plate includes one or more internally-threadedprotruding portions that are received within corresponding one or morecavities in the base, each of the internally-threaded protrudingportions receiving one of the one or more removable fasteners.